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Marion Cockeram, interim general manager of estates and facilities at the infirmary, said the purchase of disposable cups was unavoidable, but that steps were being taken to mitigate the problem.

She said: “As one of the biggest and busiest NHS trusts in the country, we understand the environmental impact of the disposable items we use in both a clinical and retail setting.

“Due to the high volume of staff, patients and visitors, we do use a large amount of disposable items, most notably the use of disposable drink cups on our wards, clinical areas and in our retail restaurants.

”Disposable cups are purchased across the NHS for hot drinks, cold drinks and dispensing medicines. Plastic, foam and paper cups have become entrenched in NHS procurement. While some can be readily recycled others, such as plastic-lined or polystyrene cups, pose considerable difficulties."

A used disposable drinking cup on the pavement by an ambulance station. Ben Birchall/PA Wire (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

There are sometimes clinical reasons behind the use of single use cups, such as avoiding the use of glass in some mental health wards.

Ms Cockeram said: “From a public health perspective, by using disposable cups for patients we reduce the risk of cross contamination and the spread of infection.”

But she said the trust took “every opportunity to ensure we are using the most sustainable cups”, adding that all waste was separated off-site and sent for recycling.

“We are aiming to reduce our disposable cup usage by bringing in new incentives in all trust managed retail outlets, such as encouraging customers to use their own clean keep-cups when purchasing a hot drink,” she said.

“And all customers who purchase their hot drinks using their own keep-cup will receive it at a discounted price.”

Greenpeace UK said the figures demonstrated “just how out of control our relationship with single-use plastic has become”.

Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner at the environmental charity, said: “In the last five years the health service has used half a billion disposable cups. They can’t all be captured and recycled, so it’s time for the Government to step in and help suppliers find viable solutions."

(Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Other organisations, meanwhile, are also looking at ways to cut down on disposable cups and plastics.

Revolution Bars Group, the UK’s largest operator of premium bars with 73 venues across the UK has removed all plastic straws from its pubs.

Revolution Leicester, in New Walk, is championing the chain’s #TheFinalStraw campaign by banning all plastic straw purchasing and putting an end to its annual 30 million order.